When it comes to buying watches online, Amazon has become a go-to destination for many shoppers. The e-commerce giant offers an extensive selection of watch styles and brands at competitive prices, plus the convenience of fast, free shipping for Prime members. You can find everything from affordable fashion watches to high-end luxury timepieces.
But is Amazon really the best place to buy a watch? Are the watches sold on Amazon authentic? What do you need to know before making a purchase? In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll cover everything you need to know about buying watches on Amazon. Learn insider tips for finding great deals, avoiding counterfeits, understanding Amazon‘s watch policies, and more.
Amazon‘s Watch Selection: An Overview
One of the biggest benefits of shopping for a watch on Amazon is the sheer variety available. No matter your budget or style, chances are you can find the perfect watch among Amazon‘s extensive offerings. According to Amazon, they carry over 150 different watch brands.
In Amazon‘s watch department, you‘ll find many of the most popular affordable and mid-range watch brands like Timex, Fossil, Casio, Seiko, Citizen, Bulova, Invicta, Skagen, and Michael Kors. Most of these brands sell directly on Amazon via their own brand storefronts. Buying directly from the brand or from Amazon (if Amazon is an authorized seller) ensures you are getting an authentic, warranty-covered watch.
For example, Timex states on their Amazon storefront page: "Shop confidently. All watches shipped and sold by Amazon.com are authentic and carry the full manufacturer‘s warranty." Many other major watch brands have similar arrangements and assurances when selling directly on Amazon.
Amazon also carries its own affordable watch brands, like Amazon Essentials. Amazon Essentials watches are very budget-friendly, with many models priced under $30. Customer reviews suggest the quality is decent for the low price, making them a good option if you just need a basic, inexpensive watch. However, for a longer-lasting, higher-quality watch, you‘ll probably want to go with a more established brand.
In addition to the brands that sell directly on Amazon, many other watches are available on Amazon via third-party sellers. This includes some higher-end luxury watch brands that don‘t have official Amazon storefronts. Buying watches from third-party sellers can be hit-or-miss in terms of authenticity and quality. We‘ll discuss more tips for safely buying from third-party sellers later in this guide.
The Benefits of Buying Watches on Amazon
There are a number of compelling benefits to buying your next watch on Amazon, such as:
Convenient One-Stop Shopping
If you already shop on Amazon frequently, it‘s very convenient to buy watches while you‘re there. Your watch purchase will be covered by Amazon‘s trusted customer service, return policies, and shipping options. You can even add a watch to an existing Amazon order.
Wide Selection
As mentioned, Amazon offers watches to suit every budget and style, from cheap fashion watches to luxury timepieces. The selection is much wider than what you‘ll find in most brick-and-mortar retailers.
Competitive Prices
Amazon‘s prices on watches are often as good or better than other major retailers. Savvy shoppers can find a great watch deal, especially around major sales events like Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. We‘ll share more tips for finding the best prices shortly.
Fast, Free Shipping
Amazon Prime members get free 2-day shipping on most watches, making it quick and affordable to get your new timepiece. In some areas, Prime even offers free 1-day or same-day delivery on certain watches.
Easy Returns
If you‘re not happy with your watch, Amazon offers free returns within 30 days in most cases. This makes it less risky to buy a watch online, since you can easily send it back if it doesn‘t meet your expectations.
Customer Reviews
One advantage of shopping on Amazon is the wealth of customer reviews available. Reading reviews from other buyers can give you a better sense of a watch‘s quality, durability, and value before you buy.
Is It Safe to Buy Watches on Amazon? Authenticity Concerns
A common question from watch shoppers is whether watches bought from Amazon are authentic. The answer depends on who you are buying the watch from.
As discussed above, many major watch brands partner with Amazon to sell authentic timepieces directly to Amazon shoppers. This includes brands like Timex, Fossil, Bulova, Invicta, Seiko, and Michael Kors. As long as you buy these brands‘ watches directly from their official Amazon storefronts or "ships from and sold by Amazon.com", then you can trust you are getting the real deal.
However, the waters get a bit murkier when it comes to watches sold by third-party sellers on Amazon. While there are certainly many trustworthy third-party watch dealers on Amazon, there are also bad apples selling counterfeits or used items as new. This is a particular concern with luxury watch brands, which are often a target for counterfeiting.
Before buying a watch from a third-party seller on Amazon, be sure to thoroughly vet their ratings and reviews. Only buy from third-party sellers with a high feedback rating (at least 90% positive ratings). Be skeptical of any luxury watches priced significantly lower than retail – if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Some of the trusted third-party watch sellers on Amazon, according to other watch enthusiasts, include Jomashop, The Watch Locker, My Gift Stop, JustCalculators and Watchsavings. But even with a reputable seller, it‘s a good idea to compare prices with a few other retailers and the brand‘s own website to ensure you are getting a fair deal.
When in doubt, stick to buying watches sold directly by Amazon or by the brand itself on Amazon. While the selection may not include every brand or model, you can be confident in the authenticity and warranty coverage.
Tips for Getting the Best Deals on Watches at Amazon
At any given time, Amazon has thousands of watch models on sale. But with so many options, how can you find the best deals and values? Here are some tips:
Take Advantage of Sales Events
Amazon routinely runs big sales events where you can score a great deal on a watch. The biggest one for deals is Amazon Prime Day, a 48-hour sale exclusively for Prime members that typically takes place in July. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are also great opportunities to find low prices on watches at Amazon. Some watch brands run their own sales events as well, so keep an eye on your favorite brands‘ Amazon storefronts.
Use Amazon‘s Search Filters
When searching for watches on Amazon, be sure to use the search filters to narrow down your options. You can filter by brand, price range, style, size, features, and much more. Use the Price filter to see only watches in your budget, or filter by Average Customer Review to see highly-rated options.
Set Up Deal Alerts
If you have your eye on a specific watch, you can use a price tracking tool like CamelCamelCamel or Keepa to set up deal alerts. These services will notify you when the watch drops in price on Amazon, so you can grab it at a discount.
Check the Coupon Box
On some watch listings, you may see a checkbox to apply a coupon and get an extra discount. Be sure to look out for these coupons and clip them to save a bit extra.
Consider Amazon Renewed for Used Watches
If you‘re open to buying a used watch to save money, consider looking for your desired model on Amazon Renewed. This is Amazon‘s certified refurbished program. Watches sold here have been inspected and tested by Amazon to ensure they are in good working condition. They are backed by a 90-day Amazon Renewed Guarantee. Buying used can be a good way to get a high-end watch at a more affordable price.
Compare Prices
Even if a watch price on Amazon looks like a great deal, it‘s always a good idea to compare prices with a few other reputable retailers before purchasing. Sometimes other sites like Jomashop, Macy‘s or the brand‘s own online store may have a lower price or a better warranty offer.
Amazon‘s Watch Return Policy and Warranty Coverage
Amazon allows watches to be returned within 30 days of delivery for a full refund in most cases. This applies both to watches sold directly by Amazon as well as most third-party sellers (though it‘s always a good idea to double check the specific seller‘s return policy).
To start a watch return, visit the "Returns & Orders" page under your account. There you can select the watch and print out a prepaid return shipping label. Then just package up the watch securely and drop it off at a carrier location. As long as the watch is returned in new, unworn condition, you should receive a full refund within 3-5 business days after Amazon receives your return.
In terms of warranty coverage, most watches sold on Amazon are backed by the original manufacturer‘s warranty (assuming the watch is authentic and new). The warranty period and terms vary by brand. For example, Timex offers a 1-year limited warranty on most of its watches. Fossil provides a 2-year limited warranty.
It‘s important to note that these brand warranties only apply if you buy from an authorized seller – either from the brand‘s official Amazon store or from Amazon directly (if Amazon is authorized for that brand). If you buy from a third-party seller, the watch will not be covered by the manufacturer‘s warranty in most cases.
Amazon itself does not provide its own extended warranties for watches. However, you can sometimes add an optional third-party protection plan from SquareTrade or Asurion when buying a watch. These plans can extend your warranty for 1-3 extra years for an additional fee.
Is Buying a Watch on Amazon Worth It?
So is Amazon a good place to buy your next watch? For many shoppers, the answer is yes – as long as you take a few precautions. Sticking to watches sold directly by brands or by Amazon is wise to ensure authenticity and warranty coverage. Reading seller and product reviews closely can also help you choose a high-quality watch that meets your needs.
Amazon‘s wide selection, competitive prices, Prime shipping benefits, and generous return policy make it a convenient place to find the perfect watch. For affordable to mid-range fashion watches from well-known brands, Amazon is often the best bet. Many watch brands have embraced Amazon as a direct sales channel.
However, if you‘re looking for a high-end luxury watch, buying from a brand‘s own boutique or an authorized high-end watch dealer is often the safer way to go. Spending thousands on a Rolex or Omega watch from a third-party Amazon seller is a much riskier proposition. The savings often aren‘t worth the potential of receiving a counterfeit.
The other time you may want to look beyond Amazon for a watch is if a particular model you want is only available through specialty watch retailers. Some smaller or niche watch brands don‘t sell on Amazon, so you‘ll need to go directly to their websites or retail partners.
But for the wide swath of watches that are readily available on Amazon, the e-commerce giant offers a convenient way to find the perfect timepiece at a competitive price. With a little bit of research and commonsense precautions, you can have a great experience buying watches on Amazon. Happy watch shopping!
